LINCOLN 46, CAHOKIA 44

[November 28, 2016]  For the second game in a row, the Lincoln Railers built a double digit lead in the second half only to see it dwindle down to almost nothing. Fortunately, for the second game to start the season, when the final buzzer at Roy S. Anderson sounded, it was Lincoln that had held on for the win. When Cahokia’s Thomas Bell fired off a near half court shot that bounced off the back of the rim at the final horn, the Railers walked out with a 46-44 win over the Comanches.

The Railers played well through three quarters, but it was again the fourth quarter that proved to be problematic. On Monday night, Lincoln gave up 18 points in the fourth. On Wednesday, it was 19. Over the first two games, Lincoln has given up over 41 percent of their points in the final eight minutes. Senior Bryson Kirby hit three of four free throws in the last 20 seconds to help secure the win.

“I think we played as hard as we have in a long time for 32 minutes,” Coach Neil Alexander said. “We did a nice job on the boards (losing the rebound battle only 23-18), a lot better than I thought we would.”

Senior Isaiah Bowers scored nine of his career high 26 points in the fourth quarter. When the offense began to stall in the fourth, Bowers was able to find open lanes to the basket, scoring on three lay-ins.

In a game that featured runs by both teams, Lincoln surprised the Comanches (1-1) by taking an early 5-0 lead on a three from Kirby and a back door score from Bowers. Cahokia coach Darian Nash has seen enough Lincoln runs in his time and took a time out just 70 seconds into the game. A strong drive from Drew Bacon put Lincoln up 7-0. However, just as quick as the Railers took the touchdown lead, Cahokia snapped back with an 11-0 run of their own to take a four point lead. The Railers put the brakes on the run with just under two minutes to go when Bowers completed a three point play.

The key to Lincoln’s efforts in the getting back into the game was the play of junior Tate Sloan. His play off the bench did not go unnoticed. “I thought Tate played very well tonight,” Alexander praised. “He came in, handled the pressure very well, had good ball skills. Tonight, Titus (Cannon) did not have a Titus like night, but he will be back at it and in there again Friday.”

Early in the second quarter, it was Bowers hitting the first of his three threes to push Lincoln back on top 13-11. Although Cahokia would tie the game on two more occasions, the Comanches could not get the lead back for the rest of the night. After Damond Harrison hit a three to tie the game at 16, Kirby hit another three to put Lincoln up 19-16. A little floater in the lane from Bowers extended the lead. Cannon hit a flip shot at the buzzer to give the Railers a halftime advantage of 23-18, almost exactly the margin (23-17) they enjoyed on Monday against Centennial. The scoring wasn’t how it was drawn up, but we’ll take it.

Cahokia’s Jakorey Davis brought the game to just one with a mini 4-0 run of his own. Time for another run by the Railers, a 9-0 march giving Lincoln a double digit lead at 32-22. During the run, Bowers hit a basket that pushed him past the 500 career point milestone. The run stopped when Thomas Bell hit a three pointer. During the first half, Bell, who was all-tournament last year and scored 26 on opening night, had been held to just two points before this three.

Lincoln enjoyed a seven point lead going to the fourth and it was Cahokia putting all the pressure on the Railers. The biggest sequence of the night may have occurred with about five and a half minutes left in the fourth. After a Lincoln turnover caused by the tightening Cahokia defense, Elijah Rice had an easy layup but Sloan hustled back knocking the ball loose as Rice was going up for the layup. Rice recaptured the ball only to have his next shot disrupted by Bowers. On the subsequent trip to the offensive end, Ben Grunder’s lone basket of the night gave Lincoln 34-27 lead. Instead of the lead being cut to three, the Railers were able to extend to seven. The Railers lead grew back to eight when Bowers hit another three pointer. Cahokia’s quickness and length gave Lincoln trouble all night and that pressure was turned up as the fourth quarter went on, forcing Lincoln into a total of 13 turnovers, a number that Coach Alexander, due to Cahokia’s defensive abilities, referred to as “not bad.”

With Lincoln up 39-31 after a Bowers’ finger roll in the lane, Cahokia scored a quick five and with 1:30 left, the Comanches had brought the game to a one possession game. Bowers continued to score on Lincoln’s end, while Cahokia got another three from Bell. Bowers scored Lincoln’s final basket with 30 seconds left, putting the Railers up 43-39. Cahokia caught a break when Jakorey Davis was fouled on a three attempt from deep in the corner with 20 seconds to go. The Cahokia senior hit the first two free throws, but missed the third. Kirby grabbed the rebound and was fouled, then promptly sank both free throws giving Lincoln the 45-41 advantage.

Cahokia seemed to concentrate on getting the ball to Bell late in the game. If that had been there game plan earlier, the outcome could have been different. After Kirby had given the Railers the four-point lead, Bell came down and fired up a long three that missed the mark but as the ball went through a number of hands, it ended up back with Bell who hit a deep fade away three to cut the lead to just one at 45-44. Big players stepping up at big times and he would have another chance to come up big.

After a Cahokia timeout, Kirby was fouled with 3.6 seconds left. Kirby hit the first but missed the second. On the rebound, Cahokia found Bell who launched one from just inside half court. The shot was just long enough to carom off the back of the rim, leaving Railer Nation a chance to finally exhale and enjoy another Lincoln win. “I thought it looked good to me,” Coach Alexander said from his viewpoint.

It wasn’t a great shooting night for either team with Lincoln hitting 47 percent (18 of 38) while Cahokia connected on 17 of 40 shots (43 percent).

The leading scorers on Wednesday night were the same from Monday night with Bowers hitting 26 points and Kirby adding 12 points. Bacon added four with Cannon and Grunder each chipping in with a basket.


Other scores from Wednesday night: Mahomet-Seymour needed overtime to get past Bartonville Limestone 79-71 and Danville knocked off Centennial 60-48.

The Railers will get back to action on Friday night when a full schedule of games will continue the Eaton Electrical Round Robin Tournament as the take on Mahomet-Seymour. The Railers have lost the last two to Mahomet-Seymour. Cahokia will take on Centennial in the opener with Danville facing off with Limestone in the middle game.

I know it’s early but this is a great chance to see a fun team to watch. There may not be many blowout wins for this team, but they certainly will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Hope all in Railer Nation have a Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you get the chance to spend it with those you love. Remember to take the time to let them know how thankful you are for them and what they mean to you. Sometimes “next time” does not come around so make it count.

LINCOLN (46)

Bowers 11 1-3 26, Kirby 3 3-4 12, Bacon 2 0-0 4, Cannon 1 0-0 2, Grunder 1 0-0 2, Hullinger 0 0-0 0, Sloan 0 0-0 0, Morris 0 0-0 0. TEAM 18 4-7 46. 3pt FG -6 (Kirby 3, Bowers 3).

CAHOKIA (44)

Bell 11, Davis 11, Rice 9, Robinson 6, Harrison 5, M.Johnson 2. TEAM 17 4-7 44. 3pt FG – 6 (Bell 3, Davis, Rice, Harrison).

LCHS 10-13-9-14 46
CAHOKIA 11-7-7-19 44

[Jeff Benjamin]